A multi-proxy record of hurricanes, tsunami, and post-disturbance ecosystem changes from coastal southern Baja California

Tsunamis and hurricanes are two earth surface processes that can dramatically impact coastal landforms ecosystems. This study uses a combination of palynological, grain-size, X-ray fluorescence, loss-on-ignition analyses, short-lived isotopic radiocarbon dating, statistical analysis to differentiate the tsunami hurricane deposits, establish Late-Holocene record extreme events, document landscape vegetation transformation in response disturbance events environmental changes from small lagoon Baja California, Mexico. Prior ~530 cal yr BP, Playa Los Cocos was occupied by short-hydroperiod tidal marsh bounded desert on surrounding hillslopes. At created backbarrier introduced mangrove propagules other localities, lagoonal environment substrates also provided suitable habitats for red mangroves proliferate. Once established, populations rapidly expanded until ~180 when modern human activities diminished forest our area. Overall, multi-proxy dataset revealed four at ~770, ~600, ~280, ~0 one event BP. The deposits were preserved form fluvial slope-wash characterized low organic water contents, concentration marine elements, high terrestrial elements. run-up abundant broken intact sea shells, content carbonate sharp basal contact with underlying sediments. backwash mixed physical chemical signature resembling both Results suggest tsunamis help propagule dispersal create favorable spread proliferation environment.